Great Things Are Happening

At Dayton Public Schools, we see wonderful stories unfolding in front of our eyes every day. The student fighting through adversity. The teacher finding a new way to connect. The school staff member who selflessly serves. In our preschools, elementaries, middle schools, and high schools, these stories of individual accomplishment are too often taken for granted. The videos on this page show the true spirit of Dayton Public Schools and its students, faculty, and staff who go the extra mile. Great things are happening at Dayton Public Schools!

Know someone who's doing a great thing? Nominate them here! We'd love to feature their story on this page.

Team Player

NBA champion Norris Cole continues to give back to students at Dayton Public Schools. This Paul Laurence Dunbar High School legend understands the importance of balance. That’s why he founded the Norris Cole Foundation for students in his hometown.

Legacy of Pride

Horace Mann art teacher and DPS alumni Joni Watson has been teaching in Dayton Public Schools for 31 years. This year, she’s teaching 15 students who are children of her former students. Why do generations of families keep returning to Dayton Public Schools? Joni shares her unique insight.

Welcoming the World

Belmont High School is home to a diverse and welcoming student body. As the most diverse high school in the Dayton area, it hosts students from 25 countries. Through cultural collaboration, Belmont has become a place where all students can learn from one another. Herman Chongwain shares his story about moving to Dayton from Cameroon, an African country 6000 miles away.

An Educated Decision

Our region is filled with Dayton Public Schools success stories. Before she became a college president in New York, Ty Stone began her path to success in Dayton Public Schools. Learn how Ty, her husband, and her children all benefited from a Dayton Public Schools education.

Kaleb's Class

Kaleb has autism, but that hasn’t stopped him from enjoying preschool like every other child in his class at Rosa Parks Early Learning Center. Kaleb's mom is thankful for the inclusive atmosphere in Kaleb's class and now knows why Rosa Parks is a five-star rated preschool – just like every other DPS preschool.

Shining Light

Claude Burns believes in giving back to his community. That's why he has been volunteering his time as a mentor with Dayton Public Schools for nearly two decades. Claude has "been there and done that," and DPS students appreciate the experience and wisdom he brings to every mentoring session.

Prepared for Act II

In her high school career, Gabriella Neurer has already achieved great things on stage, but she accomplished her greatest feat far from the spotlight and crowds. While at Stivers School for the Arts, Gabby quietly earned not one, but two associate degrees from Sinclair.

Striking a Chord

Dunbar Early College High School didn’t have a marching band so Jason Shelton started one. And his reasoning involved much more than making music. Mr. Shelton is creating innovative ways for his students to find scholarship opportunities at local colleges and universities, and it’s striking a chord with his students.

Seizing Opportunity

Maya Smith-Custer is a 2017 honors graduate from Stivers School for the Arts, and she credits her success to always being open to new opportunities. Watch how one of those opportunities landed her a choice internship with the City of Dayton and a scholarship at the University of Dayton.

Giving Time, Enriching Lives

The success of our students at Dayton Public Schools relies on a number of factors both inside and outside of the classroom. We are inspired every day by the number of parent and community volunteers who donate their time and talents to help our students thrive.

Thurgood Marshall STEM High School can lay claim to an Ohio first: the first NAACP high school chapter in Ohio. And, the chapter just celebrated its one-year anniversary. Now a group 30 students strong, these young scholars are learning by doing, including field trips and civic meetings.

The Office of Gifted Services oversees about 1,000 students in the district who require a higher level of instruction. These gifted students are issued mentally-demanding tasks to push them and keep them motivated. Just like Jul’Bria, a fourth-grader given a budgeting task that would challenge the most financially-wise adults.

Belmont High School now plays host to a unique once-a-week lunch. Dayton Police Officer Zach Hastings visits students to eat with them in the cafeteria—basically, it’s just a time to have lunch, hang out, and talk. This new tradition is all about fostering conversations and building bridges for a stronger community.

Meadowdale PreK-6 School nurse Linda McDole is always on the lookout for students that may need a little extra help. From clothes to shoes to gifts around the holidays, she is a keen observer of who could benefit from a hand up. Her community helpers have begun a new holiday tradition that is truly all about giving.

Who says pro football gets to have all the fun when it comes to heartwarming military family reunions? See what happened at Valerie PreK-6 School when one Army mom surprised her two daughters with an earlier-than-expected homecoming—complete with a gymnasium full of waving American flags.

DPS knows that asthma is a constant challenge for students who are afflicted with this condition. Knowing that asthma-related absences can place student development in jeopardy, the new Comprehensive Asthma Management Program is making a huge difference for students just like De’Anna.

Visitors, parents, and students of Horace Mann PreK-6 School are smiling a little brighter thanks to a trio of happy greeters, chalkboards in hand. The signs, usually sporting cartoon characters and friendly phrases, have become an attraction where passers-by can’t help but smile and wave at the three goodwill ambassadors.